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BR Anony.
Thank you so much for all the compliments you have given me, it is nice to know that someone out there appreciates how hard it is to get community involved.
Yes, I am unincorporated and because I am on the grey area of BF's incorporation map, I am concerned. I really do not know what I am getting as far as representation, but I sure have a good idea of what I am getting in taxes.
People out here are pretty outraged with BF and extremely upset about some of the comments made by Mr. Cooper during the hearing process.
So I think it was unfair what BF did to the citizens, unfortunately, they appear to not even know what they did, and they voted for it anyway. So, this was my issue with fighting the BF C/C issue, it is the process. It was the way our legislature and senate had done such a poor job in investigating more facts. Not one of them ever even asked if there was a hearing! So, my issues are that even if this is repealed or not repealed, we have a serious problem at the capitol and this should not be ignored.
It is what is happening at the capitol that is hurting all of us. They have a pass the buck mentality. And believe me, there are residents all over this state that are being hammered by this just as much as we are. We need a responsible growth act!
By Pam
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To Cheryl
Broomfield is building; however it is far behind the growth of Westminster. Westminster decided long ago to be the growth leader of the north metro area; and the first to bring the term "sprawl" to the north side of Denver. Several years ago; they began an agressive annexation program; on the north side; they have annexed at least to 154th; to Rocky Flats on the West, totally surrounded Thornton and Northglenn on the south and east. In doing so; they created huge retail strips on the boundaries of their neighbors; offered incentives to businesses such as Kings and Albertson's to move to their side of the block to increase their tax base. Unlike Broomfield, the major retail strips (some seem to be copied after Colfax Avenue)are located along the borders of their neighbors. Look at the mall; when Broomfield finally approved Flatirons Mall, which is located on an the Boulder turnpike; not a neighborhood, Westminster had the gall to ask Westy residents for a tax increase to renovate Westy Mall. Is this fair? Was Westminster the picture of integrity with Northglenn, Thornton, Broomfield, and Arvada. Absolutely not. Their aggressiveness was no more publicized than the actions of the BF CC in achieving county status. Westminster has always been the aggressor; they wanted to be the "gem" of the north, Unfortunately, the "gem" industries are in technology; and Broomfield landed these. Westminster did not go after a corporate base; they went after a retail base to be supported by all the surrounding communities. What they built could not possibly be supported by the population of Westminster. As a Broomfield resident; I too spent my money in Westminster; however, with more businesses coming to my community; such as Home Depot and the Flatirons Mall I will no longer be supporting Westminster.
In their expansion; Westy moved their waste water treatment plants, and their undesirables to the borders of other communities; and they had total disregard for open space. So in Westminster, your government is certainly no better than BF's. An example of this is your governments total disregard for CFFD and CVELG in defending you in the jail question. Instead, they failed to represent you at any meetings with BF )not even your own neighborhood representative appeared; and they actually worked against you in an agreement with BF.
Now you have another issue created by Westminster: failing retail sights such as the abandoned buildings at 92 and Wadsworth where Builder's Square once was; and the adjoining area on 88th and Wadsworth where other retailers have left. This is the demise of over agressive attitudes. Westminster is now trying to copy BF by bringing in offices and a hotel at Church Road; will it be a benefit to the quagmire your leadership created? Doubt it; as some say, too little, too late. Westminster mall will not survive another ten years; at least not with the draw of customers it now has. Northglenn had to demolish and rebuild; they offer something different and much easier to get into; and Flatirons will have an impact. As other communities build theaters; recreation centers; ball fields; and other family oriented centers; Westminster will be looking to increase your taxes for simple maintenance of what has already been built. Again, this has to be addressed by Westminster residents; but as I drive through Westminster, I see nothing but rooftop upon rooftop. In their own plans; Church Road will be more retail; how will you maintain the empty spaces you already have or are developing? In these two city governments there are no innocents; and their has not been a communication level to develop fairly. There has been nothing but greed; Westminster has tried to feed off their neighbors; and the neighbors are now answering with more progressive sustainable coporate tenants.
By Br Anonymous
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To Pam
You managed to raise my blood pressure; especially with the ignorance of the people at the state capitol. So I am going to take a few minutes to calm down; then respond to that.
First; unless you annex either voluntarily or through force; you will never receive recognition from BF leadership. Personnally, if I could afford your neighborhood I would move there; because at least you have an active neighborhood; one that is concerned about growth; quality of life; and open space; to name a few.
Now, about the state; I have to keep this brief because I could fill the board with my disagreements and observations. This is one reason why I always vote; it is imperative to try to change the state's direction. First, have a very pro-growth legislature that is determined to make Colorado as recognized as Chicago, New York, and LA in terms of world recognition.
Second: DIA has been both good and bad for us; we went from a state whose economy was determined by the demand for natural resouces (eg. oil, uranium); a cyclical industry; to a state that is now progressive in development of high technology. With the agreements of middle east communities; Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq; this was a necessity if we were to survive with the future; an industrial society now going to a technological society.
In doing so; the chamber of commerce postcards of Denver have now been moved deep into the mountains; I have yet to see the governor grinning through the pollution of the front range in any local or nationally televised ad. In our legislature today; this is irrevalent; as growth and recognition are more important. This is witnessed in the incentives given to corporations to relocate here; granted, this is done in every state; but Colorado has been more complacent and generous in their offerings. For this I admire Boulder; they have said; and continue to say; enough is enough. Did you see the latest legislation being considered by their council; limit new business growth to residents only? I admire this; it is the one way they will assure protection of open space.
In the metro area; the state and city of Denver are already developing all the area of DIA; projected population 50000-60000; proudly, I might add with all the fluff; hotels, business parks, rooftops, strip malls.
Two years ago, Ted Koeppel, came to Colorado and spent two nightline segments on the growth of Colorado. One entire segment was devoted to the availability of water; a story that was discounted by Mayor Webb. The mountain states are arid; and we are running out of water. At the CURRENT rate of consumption; we will be out in 20 years. Yet, the ski industries continue to expand; and those damn snow making machines use so much water to sustain their income; that only 40% of their usage is returned to the streams. Who is looking? Who is legislating? NO one. It would be a negative block on our growth.
One of the first moves of our stupid governor (a nice,republican Texan who has all the brains of a nice republican Texan here to develop Colorado); was to block the approval of wilderness protection areas supported by the EPA, signed by all western governors to protect not only the wilderness but also to control the amount of pollution in those areas. So Owens stopped it. Growth is more important; stupid highways are more important than other modes of CLEAN transportation; and the legisaltor is buying it. They now have a governor that thinks as they do.
No need to ask questions; no need to challenge the destruction of Colorado's natural resources; the views of the mountains from the Front Range are becoming history due to pollution, and we are running out of water.
By Br Anonymous
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To Pam
My response to your last post was nested; sorry. It is too long to re-write; but you can read it by pulling up your comment to me and clicking on below. I am interested in your view on this.
By Br Anonymous
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